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Saturday, December 25, 2010

YEAH!! It's CHRISTMAS :D A time for family, presents and for seniors to work their butts off writing college apps. So, to celebrate I want to share some of my favorite Christmas songs, because, Christmas songs are, well, amazing. Enjoy!

I Want a Hippopatamus For Christmas By: Gayla Peevey It's been my favorite song for well ever...and basically, one of the best Christmas songs!!

All I Want for Christmas is You By: Mariah Carey Can you say classic?!

The Most Offensive Christmas Song Ever (South Park)-Mr. Hankey ft. Kenny Please...just blame this darn SP obsession (The lyrics are in the description of the movie...so you'll have to click on the vid to see the actual vid on YouTube :( ) But god...I love SP for the character of Kenny, he basically says EVERYTHING and the censors can't censor anything because, well, they don't understand. Haha. And Kenny's giggles are just so darn adorable!

12 Days of Christmas By: Relient K (I believe-Speed Up) This is my most favorite version of the song and the South Park animations are sooo cute/wonderful...and I love the Style moment in the end...even though I know it's a Star Trek refrence but still STYLE :D

Baby, It's Cold Outside (Glee Version) God...I love Darren Criss, I've really liked him ever since of AVPM and of course Chris is just awesome in this and I just wished that they would kiss already because they are so cute together!!~

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas By: Bing Crosby Had to end on a classic note...love :)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

"I am glad that I have speech, a place where I can be courageous and strong."

Summary (From B.O.B):

What would you do if your mother planned every stepin your life...and demanded you follow?

Frances has one job in life. To get into Berkeley and become a doctor so that her mother's ambitions for her will be realized. And Frances doesn't think there's anything wrong with that-until the day she accidently steps into speech class.

Frances turns out to be a natural at debate and public speaking. But to win in competition, Frances needs to say things she really believes-and to hide what she's doing from her mother. And once Frances steps out beyond her narrowly prescribed life, she begins to question many things about the way she is raised. Frances knows she must be obedient to her mother, who has sacrificed so much for her education. But how much is Frances living out the life her mother wants her to have, instead of the life that's right for Frances?

Wdebo's Review: As I am sure many of you know, I am ABC (American Born Chinese), so I have always been searching for YA books about people of Chinese decent. Therefore, when I was given the chance to review Bitter Melon, I was so excited, it's so hard to find books about Chinese people and especially Chinese Americans in the YA world. I really enjoyed Bitter Melon, a great novel that delves into Chinese traditions and the stress that are put on Chinese children.

I am sure many readers have been pushed by their parents to travel certain roads in life. Frances' mom is just like that, she pushes Frances down the road that she believes in best for her, but instead of just pushing her she takes it much further. It really shows the darker side of a parent pushing their child to succeed.

The novel uses short, choppy sentences to create imagry. In the beginning, the use of these sentences felt awkwardly put together, but as the novel progresses, the sentences are put together more smoothly, and the story flows well together, and the novel becomes addicting until the end. There is also a nice addition of certian Chinese phrases and culture, but it does not dwell on it which was how the story felt, it talked about Frances' Chinese heritage and culture but mainly focused on her growth and finding what she wanted for herself and building her own path in life.

I also loved the romance between her and Derek. It was so cute and innocent. And I think the reason why I loved it so much is because, this might sound really stupid, but because of Frances' faults, how she's not perfect like the rest of us. She isn't the skinniest, she isn't the prettiest, but Derek is able to overlook that and fall for her all the same, it was just really sweet. :) I hate stories in which the main character may be a nerd, or not as popular as they want, but they are still pretty and has this really fantabulous boyfriend that adores them, gah, stick to reality please!

Cafe Cover Chat: I love finally seeing an Asian person on the cover and so I really like this cover, haha, but it's a pretty cover, but she seems too happy. (B+)

All in all, a wonderful book that brings together growing up and finding yourself in a Chinese culture and finding love outside of it.

"For all of these two hundred years, none of us has seen a drought like this. We suffer more every day, each day worse than the last, all of them endured in the dry woods."

Summary(From B.O.B):

A young girl thirsts for love and

freedom, but at what cost?

Ruby dreams of escaping the Congregation. Escape from slaver Darwin West and his cruel Overseers. Escape form the backbreaking work of gathering Water. Escape from living as if it is still 1812, the year they were all enslaved.When Ruby meets Ford-an irresistible, kind, forbidden new Overseer-she longs to run away with him to the modern world, where she could live a normal teenage life. Escape with Ford would be so simple.But if Ruby leaves, her communit yis condemned to certian death. She, alone, possesses the secret ingredient that makes the Water so special-her blood-and it's the one thing that the Congregation cannot live without.Drought is the haunting story of one community's thirst for life, and the dangerous struggle of the only girl who can grant it.

Wdebo's Review: When I saw Drought I knew I wanted to read it. I really enjoyed Candor, though it was not the best book I've ever read, it was def on my top list of dystopian books. From the first paragraph of Drought I was hooked, I absolutely loved the way Pam Bachorz wrote, though I was confused for a bit about them being alive for two hundred years, the rest of the story went smoothly.

The writing was superb, it flowed so well and just keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The story goes one way and when it slowly begins to become too repetitive, it changes course quickly to keep the storyline fresh and addictive. I always loved dystopian novels and Drought is such a wonderful example of a great dystopian story. It was amazing from beginning to satisfying ending.

I found all of the characters to be very strongly defined. I liked Ruby but she was too indecisive but strong in her own way. Ford was awesome, but a bit creepy at the same time. I found Darwin West to be really, I don't know how to put this but childish, he was cruel, but childish at the same time. One example is when he makes Ellie, an old, weakened woman, do the limbo for her water and right when Ruby's mother is going to give it to her, Darwin hits it out of her hand and yells psych. Seriously? Psych? Haha. I laughed because it was so...immature... I was very disappointed in the congregants espeically *spoiler alert* when Darwin dies and they just latch onto the first person that is willing to be their leader. All their hopes for freedom just seem so trivial. *End of spoiler alert*

Cafe Cover Chat: I like the cover it has that mysterious flair that the story has and the blue in the eye is just so gorgeous. (B+)

All in all, a wonderful novel that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Wdebo's Review: I basically am I humongous Tim Burton fan, so this MV post is for my second favorite Tim Burton movie (First being The Nightmare Before Christmas, of course). This song is awesome and I was reading the comments for the vid and I have to say I totally agree with one of the comments, "if death is like this, I can't wait to die!!!!!"

Monday, December 13, 2010

Title: Ghostgirl: LovesickAuthor: Tonya HurleyHARDBACKAmount of Pages: 311Release Date: July 12, 2010Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young ReadersGeared Towards: Teens/Paranormal roamnce loversExtra Info: This is the third book in the Ghostgirl series. (List on bottom)From: Author

"And though the symptoms of lovesickness may be many, they all share a single cause and single cure: You" (P. 82).

Summary: Charlotte's life, or more correctly, her death, has now been going down a wonderful path. She has her parents back, she now has a wonderful boyfriend, Eric (who cares if they haven't kissed yet, or that they can't kiss in the first place, they still have each other) and the work at the hotline is finally ending and so she can get on with her death. Now, Charlotte and the Dead Ed students learn that their next step is to go back to where they lived and help the living. Charlotte is paired up with Damen and Eric with Scarlett. When Eric finds out about how Charlotte basically died for Damen he goes into a state of jealousy, leaving Charlotte confused, about her feelings for Eric and also what she is going to have to do with Damen.

On the other side of the death pond, Scarlett is confused about her love with Damen, she has a need to change for him, but does she really want to? Petula finds herself slowly losing the place she has worked so hard to get because a new girl who brings about a dark shadow whom lurks in the, well, shadows.

Wdebo's Review:Ghostgirl: Lovesick was defidently my favorite of the Ghostgirl series. The writing has improved as each book passes and this one was wonderfully written, the storyline was fresh and I am just so happy that Charlotte finally has a love that actually likes her back.

The story was very well written, it was addicting and, of course, had a twist at the end, that really keeps you interested. I really love the little sayings and explanations before every chapter, they are all so fun and interesting to read.

I was only displeased about a couple of things with the story. One being that I did not like the quickness of relationships, how, as happy as I was that Charlotte and Eric were together, I really wanted to know a little history of how they met, and also with the relationship between Petula and Tate, I wished that their relationship would have been expanded on, there was a very small amount of their actual falling for each other, it seemed to have just been boy meets girl ________ boy falls in love with girl. The other thing how things seem to come at the perfect time and coincidentally, it seemed kind of fake how all of a sudden something that would help them would just pop up. Apart from those two things the story was great.

My favorite character def has to be Scarlett, she is so real and awesome. Charlotte has become a character that has really grown on me, I remember how I absolutely hated her in Ghostgirl, but she has slowly matured and become a better and better person/ghost.

Cafe Cover Chat: This is my favorite cover of all of the Ghostgirl covers. I love the maroon (?) color and Charlotte's pose is gorgeously wonderful. (A-)

All in all, a great continuation to the series. Ghostgirl lovers will not be disappointed!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Wdebo's Notes: I believe Yen-J might be a debut artist this year but I'm not sure. Anywho, his voice is wonderful, this song is so soothing and sweet and I was obsessed with this song for some time. I just love the way he sings it and the lyrics are so cute! Well, enjoy!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

So, I've been MIA for my blog and have been very slow reviewing and stuff (because I've been a very slow reader :( ) Why is this? Well, apart from school, Chinese school, piano and senior year crap (AKA College), I have discovered a new obsession...yes...and at least this time it is American...I call it....

SOUTH PARK

South Park is now officially one of my favorite shows ever. I used to think that it was a show for mindless inapporpriate-ness, but I now know that South Park is genius and, well, amazing.

So, the good thing about becoming in love with something American, it gives me a bigger chance to "fan out" (Unlike loving Taiwanese stuff =[ ) But so I have now discovered the beauty of Fan Fiction and well...I love it!

Well, where is this post going, you might add? Apart from me having a vent to show my obsession (hehe), well I just wanted to let everyone know of the South Park fan fiction that I have decided to write. Basically it has a lot of romance in it (As many of you know, I am a TDrama lover, so what we TDrama lovers know is the more love, cliche, fluff, the better).

Monday, December 6, 2010

Title: Ghostgirl: HomecomingAuthor: Tonya HurleyHARDBACKAmount of Pages: 285Release Date: July 1, 2009Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young ReadersGeared Towards: Teens/Paranormal loversExtra Info: This is the second book in the Ghostgirl series (List on bottom)From: Author

"Dead, alive, or in-between, nothing is more futile than being in the right place at the wrong time" (P. 122).

Summary:Afterlife is nothing like Charlotte Usher thought it would be. She's now working in a hotline for troubled teens, but feeling as alone as she did when she was alive because as the days tick by her phone stays silent and her friends seem to be drifting slowly away from them as their phones ring off the hook and they are able to reunite with their loved ones. Nothing seems to go Charlotte's way at all until she meets Maddy, who seems like the perfect making for a best dead friend...seems....On the other side of death, Scarlet and Petula's lives seem to be going on as normal. Scarlet is going steady with Damen, but they seem to be drifting apart and Petula is dating their rival school's star quarter-back and their last date turns out great until Petula goes pale and comatose and is dumped on the side of the road by her so called "boyfriend". Now Scarlet has to find a way to save her sister and the only way she can do that is to call upon Charlotte before both she and Petula end up dead like Charlotte.

Wdebo's Review: When I finished Ghostgirl, though it was not my favorite book in the whole world, I still wanted to read the second book and I am very glad that I did. The second book's writing improved immensely and I was also able to enjoy all of the characters except for the Wendy's of course because they are total bs.

I quite enjoyed the writing in this book, the storyline was very interesting and quite addicting. I did not see the ending at all which was very nice, a paranormal story where you don't see the ending, it's a pretty novel idea :) The humor in the novel was also added in smoothly which was nice because awkwardly added humor is annoying to read...because it feels like you have to go out of your way to read then chuckle awkwardly at it.

I also enjoyed many of the characters especially Charlotte. I hated Charlotte in the last novel but this novel showed the maturity in Charlotte but it also showed her insecurites which is very realistic because even though she did change she still has some of her old personality that is very hard to change. I of course also liked Scarlet because she's just awesome and Damen is super sweet too. And I also started to like Petula, which is hard to believe but her character did show some humility.

Cafe Cover Chat: I love the Ghostgirl covers so I of course like this cover, but it's not my favorite cover of this series. (B+)

All in all, a great continuation of the Ghostgirl series, and even if you did not enjoy the first book you might enjoy the second one better becuase of the improvment of the writing and characters.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Wdebo's Notes: I have always been a fan of Vanness, mostly because his voice is so wonderful and soothing, which he shows off wonderfully in this song.

Vanness Wu is a very public Christian and so this song shows off his Christian side. Though I am not religious, I still love this song a lot. The beat is very good and as for the lyrics, hm, well, not all of it speaks to me, but the song is still wonderful.

I hope people of all religions can enjoy this song, it does speak of the general belief of fighting the dark, I believe...well...anyways..